Is Your Website Suffering From "Personality Disorders?"

Injecting personality into your website is one of the most effective ways to convey a human touch. Visitors are attracted to accessible, unintimidating websites just as we’re interested in friendly, easy-going people.

But not all of us are blessed with effortless charm, and likewise many websites exhibit off-putting traits.

Is your website suffering from any of these common “personality disorders”?

1. Narcissism (or, Excessive “Self-Love”)

You can spot a narcissistic website by endless declarations of “we do this” and “we believe in that”.

Yes, you need to convey your vision – but not in a way that leaves your visitors out in the cold. There should be far more statements about “you” rather than “us” or “we”.

Take the emphasis off yourself and speak directly to your customers. It’s all about what you can you do for them.

2. Histrionic (or, Attention-Seeking and Inappropriately Seductive)

Powerful headlines are a great way to grab attention. But don’t make promises you can’t keep.

If you promise your product will make someone rich or happy or skinny, you’d better be able to deliver.

Outrageous claims can ruin reputations. There’s nowhere to hide on the internet – all it takes is one person to find out that your promise was a lie, and you’ll be exposed on review and social network sites.

Forget the histrionics, and focus instead on providing value and building trust.

If you haven’t tapped into the power of social media and networking, then you’re not merely anti-social – you’re self-sabotaging.

Social media sites are satellites for your main website, working in harmony to:

Improve your industry clout

Gain greater control of your online image

Improve your organic search visibility

Expand your market

Between Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google +, there’s a good social media fit for even the most reluctant anti-socialite.

You don’t have to master them all. In fact, you shouldn’t. Find the network that best suits your market, and engage.

6. Self-Defeating (or, Willfully Choosing to Fail)

Your website is self-defeating if it’s not built around established goals with corresponding calls-to-action. Without these, your site is like a rudderless ship at sea.

On each page there should be clear prompts encouraging your visitors to undertake desired actions. If you’re selling products you need a “buy now” or “add to cart” button. If you have a service, you need “find out more”.

It’s even better if you use incentives such as “sign up for free tips” in order to capture visitors’ email addresses. If you don’t have an opt-in facility, you’re wilfully losing sales.

Email is the critical link between casual visitors and future customers. Used effectively, your email list can become one of the highest return assets of your business.

A “Healthy Personality” Website

So how can you ensure your website is free of “personality disorders”?

Here’s a healthy prescription:

Shine a light on your qualifications, achievements, and creativity.

Where possible, offer social proof.

Demonstrate your understanding of your target market.

Tell stories.

Prove you care about your audience by asking questions.

Be proud, but humble.

And always always always put your customers first.

Learn more insider tips and tricks to ensure your web content is doing its job. This article was written by UK web copywriter and small business proofreader/copyeditor Marianne Gonne, who has been writing, editing, publishing, marketing, selling and helping clients online in various guises since 1997.